GSMA

Visitors to the 2016 edition of the Mobile World Congress surpassed the
100,000 mark for the first time in the event’s history, with nearly
101,000 attendees, the GSMA reported today, an increase of more than six
per cent over last year. Additionally, nearly 4,000 people participated
in the ESL Expo Barcelona, which took place the weekend prior to Mobile
World Congress.

Visitors from 204 countries attended the mobile industry’s premier event
at the Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuïc venues in Barcelona. The 2016
Mobile World Congress featured more than 2,200 exhibiting companies
showcasing cutting-edge products and services across 110,000 net square
metres of exhibition and hospitality space. More than 3,600
international media and industry analysts attended the event to report
on the many significant industry announcements made at the Congress.

“Mobile World Congress hit a significant milestone in 2016 as visitors
to the event surpassed 100,000 for the first time,” said John Hoffman,
CEO of GSMA Ltd. “This year’s Mobile World Congress incorporated a
diverse range of events, spanning multiple sectors and interests,
reflecting the expanding role of mobile around the world. We once again
enjoyed a tremendously stimulating show, featuring a world-class speaker
line-up and a range of cutting-edge product launches that will set the
tone for the mobile industry for the remainder of the year and beyond.”

The four-day conference and exhibition attracted executives from the
world’s largest and most influential mobile operators, software
companies, equipment providers, internet companies and companies from
industry sectors such as automotive, finance and healthcare, as well as
government delegations from across the globe. Over 55 per cent of this
year’s Mobile World Congress attendees hold C-level positions, including
more than 5,000 CEOs and 21 per cent of attendees for the 2016 show were
women. Preliminary independent economic analysis indicates that the 2016
Mobile World Congress will have contributed more than €460 million and
over 13,000 part-time jobs.

Running alongside the main event was the GSMA’s Ministerial Programme,
which also saw record attendance, with delegations representing 137
countries and 31 international organisations. The Ministerial Programme
brings together governments, regulators and industry leaders to discuss
the specific regulatory issues relating to the development of mobile
around the world. Intel was the Official Sponsor for the 2016 GSMA
Ministerial Programme and Mobile World Summit.

Innovation City Showcases Connected Living

An estimated 28,000 attendees visited the GSMA Innovation City, which
showcased the impact of mobile-connected products and services on
consumers and businesses, with demonstrations from partners AT&T, GMA,
Jasper, KT Corporation and Sierra Wireless. Covering 2,000 square
metres, this unique space hosted numerous cutting-edge interactive
demonstrations spanning a diverse range of sectors including industry,
transport, health, home and retail, amongst many others. Highlights
included a virtual reality experience on board the Innovation City
airliner, a virtual ski jump and demonstrations of how mobile
connectivity is helping to track pets and keeping cyclists safe.

4 Years From Now at Fira Montjuïc

Now in its third year, 4 Years From Now (4YFN) attracted more than
12,500 attendees and featured 500 startups and large companies in the
Innovation Market.
An international programme presented by Mobile
World Capital Barcelona and the GSMA, 4YFN brings together the best
mobile start-ups and entrepreneurs with investors, accelerators,
incubators and corporations from the mobile ecosystem. Held 22-24
February, the 4YFN programme hosted inspiring talks, interactive
workshops, cutting-edge exhibition, startup competitions and unique
networking opportunities for the entrepreneurial tech sector.

ESL Expo Barcelona Delivers Cutting Edge-Gaming Competition

The GSMA hosted ESL Expo Barcelona at the Fira Montjuïc, 19-21 February,
in partnership with ESL, the world’s largest esports company. The event
featured the "Barcelona CounterStrike Invitational" tournament, won by
“Fnatic”, the world's #1 ranked team, beating world #2 “Astralis" in the
finals. ESL Expo Barcelona also featured the inaugural “ESL Masters -
Spanish National Championship for League of Legends”. Nearly 4,000
gaming enthusiasts per day visited the 3-day tournament to watch live as
teams competed for more than €80,000 in prize money. Meanwhile, more
than 2 million viewers logged on to watch the competitions online, with
over 175,000 concurrent viewers online for the finals on Sunday.

Event Awarded Guinness World Record For Carbon Neutral Footprint

The 2015 Mobile World Congress was recently awarded a Guinness World
Record, confirming its position as the largest carbon neutral trade show
in the world. Mobile World Congress was certified in July 2015 as carbon
neutral by BSI (British Standards Institution), verifying that the GSMA
successfully completed the certification process under the PAS 2060
international standard and that Mobile World Congress had achieved a
carbon neutral footprint. For 2016, the GSMA focused on further reducing
the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the event, offsetting
any outstanding emissions as necessary and will pursue carbon neutral
certification following Mobile World Congress 2016.

“We thank all of our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and partners for
helping us to make the 2016 edition of the Mobile World Congress the
biggest and best show in the event’s history. We also extend our
gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, the
Generalitat de Catalunya, the city of Barcelona, the city of Hospitalet,
Turisme de Barcelona, the Fira de Barcelona, the Mobile World Capital
Barcelona Foundation and all of our Barcelona partners for their ongoing
support,” concluded Hoffman.

Mobile World Congress 2017

The 2017 Mobile World Congress will be held 27 February – 2 March 2017
at Fira Gran Via.

The Mobile World Congress is the cornerstone of the Mobile World
Capital, which will be hosted in Barcelona through 2023. The Mobile
World Capital encompasses programmes and activities that span the entire
year and will benefit not only the citizens of Barcelona, Catalonia and
Spain, but also the worldwide mobile industry. For more information on
the Mobile World Capital, visit www.mobileworldcapital.com
.

Note to editor:*This figure represents the number individual
attendees at the event, including delegates, exhibitors, contractors and
media; it does not represent the total number of entries to the event.

-ENDS-

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting
nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile
ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies,
equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in
adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading
events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and
the Mobile 360 Series conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com
.
Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.